Decoy.



No. 722,682. PATENTED MAR. 17;, 1903.

- H. S. DILLS.

v DECOY. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1e. 1902.

N0 MODEL.V

ATENT HENRY s. DILLs, or AUBURN, INDIANA.

DECOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,682, dated March 17, 1 903. Application filed June 16,1902. Serial No. 111,982. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. DILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of De Kalb and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Decoy, of which the following is a specification.V f

This invention relates to decoys employed by hunters, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which may be very cheaply constructed and which will fold down, so as to occupy a small space, and which can be set up very quickly when required for use.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device set up for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the base portion of the device, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the vertical portion, illustrating the construction of the two parts of the device. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the weighted anchor detached, illustrating a modification in the construction.

In this device are comprised two principal parts--a base 10, of some suitable buoyant material, preferably of light wood of uniform thickness throughout, and conforming in outline to the bird which it is designed to represent when viewed from above, and a portion 11, preferably of similar light material and conforming in outline to the profile of the bird.

These decoys are generally employed in luring ducks and geese and will therefore be generally represented in the forms of these birds, but may be in the forms of other birds, if required.`

The base portion 10 will be provided with an aperture 12, and the profile portion 11 will be provided with a projection '13, adapted to engage this aperture 12,h whereby the profile. portion 11 will be supported in place upon the base portion 10. The projection 13 will be provided with some means whereby the portion y11 may be locked in position upon the baseportion 10, and such a means is illustrated in Fig. 3, consisting of a button 14., pivoted upon the projection 13 and adapted to be turned transversely of the base portion 10 after the projection is inserted into the perforation 12. By this simple means the two parts 10 and 1l may be readily and quickly connected, while at the same time being readily disconnected when required.

Attached to the base portion 10, preferably at a point in the rear of its center, is a baillike device 15, attached pivotally by its upper end to the base 10 at opposite sides, as indicated at 16 17. The device 15 will conform to the portion of the base lO forward of its point of attachment at 16 17, so that it will fold up in engagement with the base 10 when not in use, and thus occupy the least possible space, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The bail-like member 15 will be provided with a weight 1S, preferably of lead or some other suitable heavy material, to form a means for checking the movement of the decoy when the bail is depressed, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The weighted bail thus serves as a balance or ballast to the decoy to not only check the movement, but to prevent the overturning of the iioat by the action of the Wind against the upper portion 11. In this respect the ballast 15 18 serves the same purpose as the centerboard to a boat.

The upper portion 11 being largest at the forward or head end, the bail 15 will be located somewhat in the rear of the central line of the float 10 to balance the device and equalize the movement and hold it in an upright position on the water. 1

By arranging the member 15 to depend a considerable distance below the iioat and with ythe weight entirely at tle lower end, and consequently at a considerable distanceA below the iioat, I am enabled to secure the desired results with a much less quantity of lead than could be obtained if the weight were placed close to the float. The weighted bail thus performs two important purposes-first, as a centerboard or balance to the float to secure steadiness of motion, and, second, as a counterweight to retain the float in its upright position.

Attached to the forward edges of the base portion 10 are staples 19, one placed in front of the float 1.0, preferably slightly toone side of the center,and the other placed to one side slightly forward of the center. These staples serve as means for connecting the anchors by which the floats are connected to the bottom IOO of the stream or lake, and by placing them at different points on the float the anchors may be connected to cause the Wind to act upon the portions l1 and cause the decoys to assume different positions, so lthat a portion of the decoys will be presented in profile to different points, so that a portion will face one way land a portion the other Way, or in all directions in the wind. For instance, if a hunter had twelve ofthe decoys he would att-ach his anchor-lines to six of them in front and the remainder at the side, so that they would assume more of a moving life-like appearance, as the wind acting fore and aft upon the upper portions l1 would cause them to draw in a direct line away from the anchor-lines. It will thus be readily understood that by arranging the staples 19 at different points on the base portions 10 the decoys may be caused to assume any desired position upon the water and as many different positions as there are different locations of the staples upon the oats. The staples also serve as stops to limit the movement ofthe member l5 and preventit being moved too far upward when folded into position in aliuement with the fioat 10.

The float portion IO lying fiat upon the water and the profile portion Il standing vertically therefrom causes the device to be much more sensitive in the Wind, whereby the requisite movement of the vdecoys is assured.

The depending member 15 will preferably be formed in two parts united by their free ends into the ends of the weight 1S, as indicated in Fig. 4, but may be formed in one piece with the weight attached thereto, as illustrated in Figs. l and 3.

rIhe parts l0 and Il may be of any size and shape to represent different species of birds and may be of any suitable material; but, as before stated, the base 10 will necessarily be of suitable buoyant material, While the profile portion 1l will preferably be of similar light material, but may be of material other than wood, if preferred.

- The parts may be modified in minor particulars without departing from the principle of the invention oI-sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A decoy comprising a iioat having a profile detachably connected therewith, and a balance comprising a weighted bail conforming to the outlines of the float and connected movably by its free end thereto, and means for supporting said bail in engagement with the ioat and in horizontal alinement therewith when said bail is not in use.

2. A decoy comprising a float having a profile extending vertically therefrom, and a balance comprising a bail conforming to the outlines of the float and connected movably by its free ends thereto and adapted when not in use to be supported in engagement with the Hoat and in horizontal alinement therewith, and provided with a weight at its central point, substantially as described.

3. A decoy comprising a float having a profile extending vertically therefrom, and with staples extending horizon tally from the edges of the ioat, and a bail conforming to the outlines of the float and connected movably by its free ends thereto and adapted when not in use to be folded into engagement with said staples, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto axed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY S. DILLS.

Witnesses:

J. H. Rosn, C. H. KNAPP. 

